Ventage Tuesday Five for Five Dollars (Come and Get Your Love)

Its that time of the week again!  I just made a tuition payment and have three weddings on my horizon so (eek!) trying to be mindful of a budget.  I have a few little luxuries to share, however, that are budget friendly and that happens to be today's topic!  5 things you use daily for $5 or less (Or very very close to it)

1.  You probably have guessed that I love makeup.  So here is the best makeup bargain on the market right now (and perfect for dewy summer looks).

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush (shown here in Hot Tamale)  It is selling for $6.44 at Target so it is well below $5/use! (ha, ok so that is a little cheat).  I picked this up after a tip from Katrina and have now purchased it in like 5 colors.  You apply with your fingers - go for the brighter colors and try it out!  Although the colors in the pan might look a little intense, the intense colors work much better!!!

2.  Lego mini-figs ($2.99 per pack).
These little people just make me laugh.  I keep a stash in my office and use them like I am setting up battle scenes when explaining things to my clients.  hahahahaha.  it cracks me up.

3.  An App.  This American Life (free - itunes app store).  I am not a typical NPR listener but I love me some Ira Glass and his profound storytelling.  I often listen to the podcast on my way to work.  

4.  Another beauty product, I promise I am not a vain jerk.  I have become addicted to Watkins Body Oil Mist in Coconut Oil and Honey  this one is $8.99 per bottle but a bottle will last you for MONTHS.  I highly recommend using this right after getting out of the shower.  The smell is awesome and it makes your skin look H-O-T.  

5.  Diet Coke.  I know.  Soda is bad for you (blah blah blah) but I need one.  (or two) every day.  :)  Can be found for $1 at McDonalds for the large and everyone knows that McDonalds has the best fountain soda.  Word.  

Check out what Katrina, Em, Barb, and Steph have on their lists.

And seriously - try these products out!!

To Do List a Snapshot

Hey Ang.  Get your behind in gear.  Don't you see all that needs to be done?  And please please please get to Ikea run.  :)  Maybe if you finish all the crappy tasks on your list you can do the Ikea run.  And don't forget to pay the bills.  

And why does itunes purchases have a star next to it?  is that really the most critical thing on your list?  new Tim McGraw and Pitbull?  seriously?

Date Night With a Younger Man

Things have been a little crazy around here.  Busy, chaos, and although lots of time together, not lots of time "connecting".

One thing that is hard for me being a mom of 3 under 5 is getting one to one time with the kids that is not time out related.  It seems like it is especially hard with Luke because he is already getting one to one time with his sports and activities.

But we all felt like we needed some connecting time.  So our strategy?  Mike and I decided to take dates.  Mike and Dottie on one date and Luke and I on our own date.  Charlie was parked with a babysitter because, well, to be honest, he is 16 months old and is hard to take places that the big kids want to go.  We don't like to leave him out, AT ALL but the older kids seemed to need this.

So away we went.

Luke chose Cranky Pats for dinner.  mmmmm.  super thin crust pizza.

Luke is not a big talker, but he is a LOUD talker.  He was pretty hilarious making lot of commentary on the pizza, the ovens, the baseball game on tv.  We decided that Pat was Cranky because he had to slice so many mushrooms.  He Laughed.  He kept grabbing my hand or high giving me.  He was HAPPY to have his picture taken.  

it. was. 

awesome.

I had picked the activity.  Mini golf.  Something that would be hard with Charlie and Dottie along so it really felt like a big kid night.  Luke had a blast and was pretty good too!  

Just about every other hole he would come and hug me or high five and say, "Im having a bwast, momma".  It almost broke my heart but I refused to be maudlin about it because we were having fun and talking and just relaxing.  He was showing off and being goofy and enjoying being the only kid.  I was enjoying only having one kid with me!  there was no chaos or chasing or generalized anxiety about what was about to go wrong next, just hanging out.  

and he kept agreeing to take pictures with me.  ha.  

The golf place was very close to our favorite Green Bay stomping grounds, Bay Beach.  Luke had never been there at night before when they light up the rides.  We decided that our most excellent date night should include the ferris wheel.  

When the ride was over, we had some extra tickets and we closed out the night with the bumper cars.  

I am feeling so refreshed.  The anxiety has not disappeared and neither have the reasons for said anxiety. but you know what?  our kids are awesome.  They ARE good and well behaved and interesting.  But is hard being a trio sometimes.  Even when you love the other members of your tribe they can drive you nuts.  

Mike and Dottie also had a blast - they ALSO went for pizza (and ordered the same kind we did - pepperoni and green olive) and then went and hung out at the GB Botanical garden.  We laughed so hard that we had "matching" dinners on our date night.  We also had a TON of pizza left so we had pizza for breakfast and Charlie could join in on the fun too.  

We need to do it again because, well, mostly because it felt great .  summer still has some magic even if you don't see the fireflies.  

Wordless Wednesday (sort of) Outtakes - Summer 2013

So I have a love/hate relationship with my iphone camera.  I love that it is handy and that I can snap a ton of quick hit photos.  I hate that because its so handy, I almost never take "real" pictures any more.

If you follow me on instagram (and if you don't - get on that!) you have seen lots of pictures from my summer.  In looking at my iphone camera roll, I thought it would be funny to share some not instagram worthy shots.  Enjoy!

Five Little Bits

Right now life is flying in little bits.  Good bits and bad bits and just not sure if they are good or bad bits (yet).  I thought I would share five of those little bits right now. 

1.  It is hot here in Wisco.  You may have heard that #gbsummerrocks but this week?  its H-O-T hot.  Like so hot you can't breathe.  How do you people who live where it is hot A LOT do it?  It offends my Norwegian sensibilities.  Also - I love Taco Bell Doritos Locos (Nacho) tacos.  A LOT.  with HOT sauce.  (and I am a dork).

2.  Major Cheese Victory.  I am cheese freak.  My husband? Not so much.  In fact, the only cheese he will usually eat is mozzarella and once in a while some colby jack on tacos.  LAME.  I have been on a crusade for YEARS trying to find some cheese that he likes that are not in or on something but rather to snack on.  See this cheese plate?  its VICTORY friends...  what he decided he liked?  1)  Jarlsberg (a NORWEGIAN) cows milk cheese that looks like (but doesn't taste like) Swiss.  Yum.  He was a fan.  (yay!)  2)  Fontina baked cheese dip on bread (its cut up in the little cast iron).  Seriously, make this now.  Quit whatever it is you are doing and get the ingredients.  You can come back and read the rest of my list later.  YUM.  everyone in my house loves this.  (yay!).  3) Manchego - young.  A Spanish sheeps milk cheese that is mild and salty and delish. I am pretty happy to say that we devoured this cheese plate in like 20 minutes.  My kids LOVE the cheese too.  

3.  Legos and my super new cup.  We have been playing lots of legos these days hence the minifigs.  I have also been trying to drink more water.  Wonder Woman makes everything better.  

4.  Soccer.  Ugh. Not my bag.  But someone seems to be having a blast. 

5.  Inspired by Stephanie - the capri sun of grown ups.  :)  

A Small but Meaningful Change

Something about summer makes me take stock of my life.  Where things are, how they are going, what could be better, easier, simpler.  I think it is all the fresh air, it is rejuvinating and makes all things seem possible.

One thing I have been working on is to limit the Energy Vampires in my life.  You know, the ones that suck the spark out of you?  Who can put a negative spin on everything?  Who NEVER want to see the bright side?  I get it, everyone has those days where they just want to complain and mope.  I have those days too.  It is not easy to be a perpetually positive person.

But it is not easy being around Energy Vampires either.  I seem very susceptible to this phenomenon and it really drags my energy down, making me not want to do things and just generally feeling really negative.

So.  My solution?

• Limit the time spent with Energy Vampires.  
• Don't let other peoples energy take over or overly influence my own.
• Drink more water (ok, and gin)
• Try to get some more steps in.  I have been feeling so good since I started my Fitbit routine!
• Laugh, and find people who laugh at the same things. 
• Set boundaries.  

Easier said than done.  But today is as good a day as any.  

Patio Party Style

If you follow my on instagram. you may have noticed I have a thing for patio parties.  I didn't realize how much I love and talk about them until I was listening to Dottie go through the American Girl catalogue.  There was a vignette of two dolls having a tea party - Dottie exclaimed, PATIO PARTY!!


bhwhahahahhahaha.  We are classy like that.

Here is my patio party must haves...  I would love to hear if you have some that I have left out.

First things first:

Gin and Ginger ale has been deemed the official Ventage drink of 2013 but I truly love the gin in all forms - tonics, Tom Collins, with 7-up.  Whatever.  I am in love with Citadelle gin this summer and even convinced my neighborhood liquor store to carry it (yay!). 

Once the beverages are established you will need some music.  Nothing fancy, just a laid back, happy sound.  I am loving Pandora Country BBQ, Florida Georgia Line, sometimes some Country Outlaws, the Beach Boys (classic Patio Party music) and Motown.  My husband prefers Bon Jovi.  

You cannot be in a hurry for a patio party.  There is no schedule, no cake to be cut, just hangout with your best buds.  Here are some of my favorite patio party shots from last weekend:  

Note - I do not have a glamourous or pinterest worthy backyard.  I have a plan patio, no pool other than the $15 one I purchased at walmart, a swingset and decent grass to play on.  No fanciness required.

Food - optional but easy snacks that can sit on a table are best.  Chips and salsa, veggies and dip, watermelon slices, fruit icees are some of your best bets.  No ten ingredient recipes - pick something easy and enjoy the summer sun.

Ventage Tuesday - Currently I am....

July seems like a good time for a check in on whats up.  Be sure to check out Em, Stephanie, Barb and Katrina to see where we sync up and where we are far apart.  Maybe I can put together a Ventage Venn Diagram!!  :)

Currently I am....

Reading two things, The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen  - I am in a new book club (A Novel Bunch) and this was our inaugural selection.  and A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms - this is a cool prayer and reflection book.  I am trying to do a saint a week to keep me focused on what is important to me (for me as a mom, wife and woman) so I don't get so bogged down in stupid angst.

Playing less Candy Crush.  That game is the biggest time suck I have ever found.  Trying to stay away!!

Watching very little tv.  Not much I am interested in - although I would love to catch up on Mad Men.

Trying to get organized for a shower I am hosting in August.  Lots of details to coordinate remotely.

Cooking mostly on the grill - lots of goodness there.  I bought a grill basket and loving putting veggies in there.

Eating healthy, again.  I got a little derailed by the holiday weekend.  Back on the clean eating train!

Drinking too much gin.  Yikes!

Calling my dad on my morning commute, great way to start a day.

Texting the Ventage girls fashion pics, love this little tradition.

Pinning lots of patio party ideas.  I love patio parties.

Crafting nothing.  Need to work on Project Life.

Going too many miles an hour. Need to stop the overscheduling.

Loving our progress on the Summer Bucket List.  Victory!

Hating soccer.  I grudgingly take Luke to soccer practice and games.  It is just not my thing, I find it SOOO boring.  but he is having a blast and I like to see that.

Discovering that I take A LOT of steps a day.  My fitbit average is over 80,000 steps in a 7 day period.  Yay!

Thinking a lot about being intentional about my life.  Trying to go with the flow a little less.

Listening (to)  Country BBQ genre station on Pandora.  Fun, cheerful music.

Smelling mint.  A coworker keeps bringing me fresh mint.

Thanking God for unanswered prayers.

Considering coloring my hair.

Starting back to school shopping as a mom for the first time!

Finishing the last of the strawberries we picked.  yum.

Ventage Tuesday - Its a Love/Hate Kind of Thing

We are a prolific emailing group us Ventage girls.  One of my favorite themes is five things you love and five things you hate.  Here is my early July 2013 love/hate list.

Hate:
1.  Cleaning up serving dishes after a party.
2.  Bananas that are going soft - I feel like I should make banana bread but I DON'T WANNA.
3.  Laundry, especially bed/crib sheets.  (note - laundry is on every single love/hate list)
4.  That quality time with my husband is so hard to come by.
5.  That our laid back Summer is quickly getting full of scheduled activities.

Love:
1.  That I have found two cheeses that Mike liked (Jarlsburg and Manchego)
2.  Our Summer Bucket List - we are making great progress and it looks awesome with all the pictures.
3.  Summer Cocktails - this summer I am imbibing in lots of gin with ginger ale.  I have fallen in love with this gin - Citadelle and am experimenting with different ginger ale.  Very refreshing and reminds me of my Ventage girls and our big weekend!
4.  The kids playing outside in a freshly cut yard.  I am really lucky at how well my kids play together - not too much bickering (yet!).
5.  Emerald eyeshadow - as you know, Emerald is the pantone color of the year.  I have found that the green eyeshadow is pretty versatile and goes great with lots of summer looks!

Hope you are loving more things than you are hating right now!  Check out the other Ventage girls - Steph, Katrina, Barb, and Em.  You can also find more of our fun goings on at our 2013 hashtag on instagram - #ventageyearofawesome.

This boy at FIVE

This boy is now five years old.

He loves adventures and the sea.

He makes friends easier than anyone I have ever met.  "Hi, my names Luke.  Whats you name?  Wanna come to my party?"  He is so open to the world (and in turn, the world is open to him).

He loves animals.  Especially puppies and kittens and baby goats.  When we go to the zoo we always have to go say hi to Matilda the Moose even though she is the animal farthest away from the heart of the zoo (and the epic playset), even when his brother and sister are being crabs about going to see Matilda.  He is so soft hearted and gentle with animals that it breaks my heart.  He asked me "are we having another baby?" when I told him I didn't know, he said "can we get a puppy if there are no more babies?"  Umm.  No.  But I loved to see those wheels turning.

Speaking of his siblings... Luke is the BEST big brother.  I know this picture is pretty crappy - but do you know what I see?  Luke with a strong grasp of two little tornadoes.  A little brother and little sister that know without a doubt that he is WITH them, protecting them and loving them.  Of all the pictures I have snapped in the past week, this one makes me tear up, every single time.

This boy is fiercely loved.  He has us of course.  But he has a few more in his life that are helping make him in to the boy, and some day, the man, I know he can be.  Barb, or BAHB, as she is lovingly referred to by Luke, is helping round out our corners - providing some things that mom and dad just can't - ice cream for dinner, sword fights, and a soft place to fall when mom and dad are too tough.  He adores her. 

This boy is hilarious.  He is making me laugh more and more.  He loves to joke and get people laughing - in fact, Charlie's first real words were "tickle tickle tickle" due to a game that Luke taught him.  He has some sweet break dancing moves and loves country music.  He likes to put on hats and costumes and be silly.  He is living life full and fast and hard, every day.

This boy is still learning his limits.  Sometimes that hard and fast and full life, kicks his (and his momma's) butt.  We are trying to learn how to harness that energy and provide direction and stability to allow him to really experience the good times without the intensity of the crashes.  He has been a challenge this last year and changes don't come easily for him.  But he soldiers on.  And naps, when he needs to.

This boy is not my baby anymore.  I see the glimmer of the big boy he is becoming.  I am so grateful that he still likes to snuggle with his momma.  This boy is mine.  and I am so grateful to be able to say that.

Happy birthday Luke.  I think you put it best when you said, "I think I am going to like being five mom".

yes.  yes. yes.